A Rare Cyclic Dimolybdenum Triad with Three Weakly Interacting Unpaired Electrons

Abstract

Oxidation of α-[Mo2(cis-DAniF)2]3(μ-F)6 with an excess of FeCp2BF4 produces the triply oxidized species {β-[Mo2(cis-DAniF)2]3(μ-F)6}(BF4)3. During the oxidation process, the conformation in the α triangular species changes from an arrangement in which two dimetal units are parallel and the third one essentially orthogonal to a structure in which all three dimetal units are parallel. Furthermore, upon removal of three electrons, the Mo–Mo distances increase by about 0.05–0.06 A and the Mo–F bond distances decrease by 0.04 A. The structural data, as well as EPR, are consistent with an electronically localized system and a decrease in bond order from 4 to 3.5 for each dimetal unit.